Thankfully I've only got one to go. A sneaky queen got through the excluder and filled the super with brood. I've moved her back down & am waiting for the brood to hatch before packing down. Now all. Need is a couple of good days in a few weeks :-DPaul.

As this is our first year & I know we have long wet cold winters but I don't know what forage is available, I am going to play it safe and winter in 2 boxes and see what they have left come spring.Paul.

I'm going OS for two weeks come the beginning of May and I don't think the weather is going to be kind to let me do my pack down... I think i'll have to do it when i get back and mine will consist of putting hive mats on, removing the excluder and putting some pollen patties on top of the mat just in case... I won't be able to do a full inspection. I've got mine in two high so i can tell what there stores are like just by lifting up the hive - pollen i wont be able to ascertain hence why i'll give them some patties - I'll take them through winter two high. What are others doing for their packdown?

It's even cooled down here with a bit of rain, and I had to wear long sleeves last night! The bees are mainly staying home and I hope the couple of dead drones I saw at the entrances wasn't a drone kill, because it's only week one after I lost the queen and am hoping they will requeen. Winter here is usually foraging weather so we don't do much that is different.

Do you Southeners generally feed before Winter like the americans, and weigh hives and that sort of thing? For how long are they generally hive-bound?

Oz, you are not nervous about pollen patties due to attracting SHB, or maybe you don't have them yet? Or are SHB completely absent in cold weather? Where are you going for your trip and will you get to see any exotic beekeeping practices while you are there?

I only have one hive I am feeding as it is a bit light on. It is a swarm that I picked up late last year that hasn't done much. It is a prolific burr comb builder though so may get re-queened come spring. The others have just had a brief inspection to check on stores and any supers and queen excluders removed. I suspect there wil still be flying days and forage through winter however I am not sure how many/much so I'm playing it safe and wintering in 2 boxes. If they are still in good shape with plenty of stores left come spring I'll split them all and winter in singles the following year.Paul.